393 



however, is unsuitable for uneven ground ; and lastly the use of green 

 muscardine fungus [Metarrhizium anisopliae]. 



Pseudococcus sacchari (sugar-cane mealy-bug) attacks both the roots 

 and stalk of the sugar-cane, sometimes kilhng the canes outright. 

 This pest is considered to be the most serious insect problem in relation 

 to sugar-cane in Cuba, the discovery of suitable remedial methods 

 being a matter of urgent importance. 



BovELL (J. E.). Report of the Department of Agriculture, Barbados, 

 for 1916-1917.— 62 pp. [Received 15th July 1918.] 



Experiments on the growing of sugar-cane with chemical fertilisers, 

 and conducted on the same manurial plots for 24 consecutive years, 

 were begimiing to yield valuable results until four years ago, when 

 the canes were so severely attacked by the larvae of Diaprepes 

 abbreviatus, L. (root-borer) and Phytalus smithi, Arr. (brown hard- 

 back) as to render the comparison of results impossible. 



These two pests are increasing in Barbados in sjjite of the fact 

 that in 1915 the 1,560 clumps in the plots were dug out, cut into 

 pieces and the old cane-holes dug out 2 ft. square, 8,122 larvae 

 being thus destroyed. The increase is due to the indifference of 

 the vast majority of planters who still make no effort to combat the 

 infestation. The loss due to these larvae in 1916-17 was at the rate 

 of about £9 per acre, since 33 infested clumps had to be dug up before 

 they were mature, and when the remaining clumps were reaped 

 8,227 larvae were dug out and destroyed, being an increase on the 

 previous year. 



The need for a imited effort in collecting the larvae and mature 

 insects, as well as in destroying the eggs, is emphasised by the fact 

 that in Mauritius the pest is capable of destroying w^hole fields of 

 cane, while in Porto Rico the larvae of certain allied hardbacks are 

 on the increase and causing great loss to the sugar-cane growers. 



Some proprietors are dealing with the pest by collecting the adult 

 beetles, the hand picking of 589,680 of these having been paid for in 

 one year on an estate of 500 acres. Others, again are substituting 

 crops other than sugar-cane in the infested fields. 



A preliminary list is given of the ticks, mites and insect pests of 

 Barbados, exclusive of the Coccidae, which were recorded in the 

 previous Report [see this Review, Ser. A, iv, p. 256], with remarks 

 concerning their habits where known. 



Dash (J. S.). Report of the Assistant Superintendent of Agriculture 

 on the Entomological and Mycological Work carried out during 

 the Season under Review. — Rept. Dept. Agric. for 1916-17, 

 Barbados, 1917, pp. 56-60. [Received 15th July 1918.] 



The attacks of Diaprepes abbreviatus (root-borer) and Phytalus 

 smithi (brown hard-back) on sugar-cane seem to be increasing, and 

 the losses due to them would have been far greater had it not been 

 for the favourable growing weather that prevailed in 1916. Diatraea 

 saccharalis (moth-borer) has continued to cause great annual loss 

 owing to the lack of concerted action on the part of growers. 

 Other minor pests of sugar-cane noted were : — the scale-insects, 



